After weeks of anticipation, meticulous planning and feverish excitement, Smooth FM’s ‘A Night At The Kazbah’, held last Saturday night at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. The atmosphere was one of excitement as guests and music lovers from every walk of life came out in droves to experience what was a night of electrifying performances.

Rising star and winner of ‘The Voice Nigeria’, A’rese, who was in her element, opened the night with a beautiful rendition of Fela Kuti’s Palavar. Indeed her very first live performance as a solo artist, she thrilled the full capacity crowd.

After the Afrobeat rendition, she went on to perform original songs from her repertoire with the crowd cheering and dancing along. Highlight of her performance was a soulful rendition of Alexandra Burke’s Hallelujah, which showed her versatility as an artiste.

Soulful house trio, Mi Casa, lived up to their reputation belting out song after song on stage. Their performance of the hit Jika was one of the highlights of the night as it got guests on their feet. Headliner and South African guitarist, singer and songwriter, Jonathan Butler got the audience asking for more with the hits…Lies and Fire.

According to him ‘‘I had an awesome time in Lagos at Smooth 98.1FM’s ‘A Night at The Kazbah’. It was amazing, I can’t wait for another opportunity to come back and do it all over again’.

Speaking backstage after his performance, Butler could not hide his excitement said; “I had an awesome time in Lagos at Smooth 98.1FM’s ‘A Night at The Kazbah’. It was amazing, I can’t wait for another opportunity to come back and do it all over again.”

For Mi Casa, Saturday night was absolute magic; it honestly felt like not only the first time performing in Lagos but so new to them as the energy was real. “Everybody was amazing, the production was insane; it was really a dream for us to be here and finally get to show Lagos, Nigeria what Mi Casa is all about. A huge thank you to Smooth FM and everybody that was there,” the group said.

Excited A’rese said she couldn’t have asked for a better debut concert experience, saying it was an honour and a privilege to open for Mi Casa and Jonathan Butler. “I was inspired watching them perform, I hope ‘A Night At The Kazbah’ becomes a Lagos institution. Can’t wait for next year!”

Presented by Smooth 98.1FM, the show according to the organisers is more than just music; it’s a cultural exploration designed to bring good Nigerian, African and world music to the forefront of peoples’ consciousness and promote indigenous artistry.